Tag Archives: self help

I woke up early this morning to go to church, but before I actually got out of bed, the thought "hit" me that I wasn't to go to church, but instead, go for a walk...so I did.
As I'm just beginning to "circle" around the lake, I passed this woman (and her cute doggie) and noticed that she was crying. My mind said "keep walking. It's none of your business" but my heart said, "turn around and do something." My soul won. I also figured if she didn't want my help, then she'd say no and I'd carry on......not a big deal.
So I turned around and said, "I love your dog. Would you like to talk about something?" She replied, "No....that's okay. Do you want to know what my sister did, and how she hurt my feelings?" And then our conversation began.
We talked about a lot of things, especially how you choose to give your power away to someone else, even family members, and there is always an opportunity for you to "stop the cycle" and stand up for yourself.
It's seldom easy, but it can be done. By the time we made a complete circle around the lake, she was laughing and smiling and happy to be going brunch this afternoon. She told me she loved me, and I told her I loved her too. Two complete strangers. Don't even know her name. There is always an opportunity to serve God, and the "sacred place" can look a million different ways when you're open to it. God will lead, just learn how to follow.

I’ve always been fascinated with the classical fairy tale of Cinderella. Maybe it’s because as a 6th grader, I was chosen to play the lead role of being Cinderella in the school play; or perhaps it’s because I love the idea of enchanted castles and being swept away by prince charming. Regardless of whether or not these moments in time do come true—love, hope and happiness is the stuff dreams are made of.

Over the weekend, I decided to sit through the latest rendition of this magical tale. As I was being drawn into the life of a princess and the thought of never never land, I heard “this” inspiring message that moves beyond living happily ever after.

You see, when Cinderella was a young girl, her mother passed away. But prior to her death, she gave her daughter instructions on how to live her life. She said, “Have courage and be kind.”

WOW! Imagine that! Have courage and be kind—Powerful words for building a magical kingdom based upon grace.

Courage is a necessary virtue when staring directly into the eyes of fear or embarking on an unpredictable venture. The act of “being” courageous furthers your quest of internal exploration in gaining a deeper understanding of Self; and challenges you to heal unresolved hurts and move beyond limited perceptions with curiosity and an open-heart. Courage is the binding agent that fortifies your vision with optimism, while remaining diligent when doing the task at hand.

As the famous quote states, “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” — Lord Chesterfield

It takes courage to apply unwavering strength in rising above today’s obstacles and making a life change. It takes courage to be kind to people who may not have earned such a loving gesture. And it takes courage to stand up and speak your truth, while setting an example for those who seem to need it the most.

So, as your life candidly unfolds while traveling down your path in the pursuit of happiness—remember to demonstrate courage and to be kind. Deciding to BE BOLD when confronting your greatest challenge is a courageous action--hardly established by those with the faint of heart.

With the inner knowing that you are a spiritual being having a human (and charming) experience, it’s possible to walk in faith; roar with courage; and have the awareness that each encounter is a stepping stone for uncovering the gift of being your Highest Self. The simplest form of generosity may be the force of nature needed to transform another’s pit of darkness into a beacon of light; and in return, it may be the guiding factor in fulfilling your personal destiny. The choice is yours. Exemplify magnificence in every situation; and trust that anything is feasible when you BELIEVE in just a little bit of magic. 🙂